Are you going to be working with groups this summer?
Perhaps you're working at summer camp...
or summer school...
or volunteering at the library summer program...
or helping out at a summer daycare?
or summer school...
or volunteering at the library summer program...
or helping out at a summer daycare?
No matter what type of summer work you're doing, getting started is possibly the most challenging part of the program!
You may have a variety of children. You might have a variety of ages. You might have some children who know each other. You might have a lot of children who don't know each other. You might have very young children, or you might have pre-teens, teens, or older!
No matter who you've got, before the real learning begins, it's important to help children feel comfortable with each other.
Whatever you do, don't put them on the spot or ask them to talk to someone they don't know right away. Some children love that, others can "handle it," but others will clam up and get nervous about the next activity they do with you.
What we really want is to get them interacting without having to talk... at first! We might even do something that will get them giggling!
Here are a few games that will get them interacting, possibly giggling, without traumatizing them! (With links to directions!)
Once they get comfortable with one another, it's time to try some games where they'll have to talk to one another:
Still looking for more?
Check out this sample: Team Building Games and Activities Sampler.
If you're looking for more games, try the full set: 60 Team Building Games and Activities.
If you are teaching summer school, here are some fun summer-themed activities that focus on reading and math activities for second and third grade: Summer School Activities
